Held in Armidale last Thursday, the meeting was facilitated by Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall. The opportunity for the windfall funding for country NSW comes from the possible 49 per cent long-term lease of the largely metropolitan poles and wires networks.

The Tenterfield detour and further Mt Lindesay Road funding were trending topics for the council delegates and Mr Marshall said he was pleased by the willingness of all the councils to work together.

“To be eligible, infrastructure projects must be on a scale and importance so as to benefit a whole region,” he said. “All projects will have to be properly costed, business cases developed and then finally assessed by Infrastructure NSW.

Tenterfield mayor Peter Petty said it was good to see councils respectful of their varied wishes.

“All councils were supportive and all were supportive of our bypass and Legume to Woodenbong Rd projects,” Cr Petty said.

“It’s a bit of you scratch our back we’ll scratch yours. It’s the first stepping stone – if the current state government get back in we’ll be able to go back and say do you remember that meeting in Armidale,” he said.